Swimming pool sweeping system

ABSTRACT

Two lower rails extend along the bottom of the pool at either side while two upper rails extend along the top of the pool at either side, to guide cables that run along the rails. A net that extends along the width of the pool has a bottom part attached to the cables in the lower rails and a top part attached to the cables in the top rails, so that when a winch pulls the cables the net is swept from one end of the pool to the other to capture any object in the pool. A sensor for detecting unauthorized entry into the pool activates the winch to sweep out a child that might have fallen into the pool.

lJnited States Patent [191 [111 3,840,118 Whitmore Oct. 8, 1974 SWIMMINGPOOL SWEEPING SYSTEM Primary ExaminerJohn Adee [76] Inventor: William 0.Whitmore, 1733 Ocean Ammey, firm-Samuel Lmdenberg Ave., Los Angeles,Calif. 90404 221 Filed: May 24, 1972 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 256,567Two lower rails extend along the bottom of the pool at either side whiletwo upper rails extend along the top of the pool at either side, toguide cables that run 2% 'i 210/85 210/ i d g gg along the rails. A netthat extends along the width of gi i 259 the pool has a bottom partattached to the cables in 1 d o earch 0 84 the lower rails and a toppart attached to the cables in 1 /2 9 the top rails, so that when awinch pulls the cables the 56 R f d net is swept from one end of thepool to the other to 1 e erences capture any object in the pool. Asensor for detecting UNITEDSTATES PATENTS unauthorized entryinto thepool activates the winch 2,367,997 l/l945 Chambras 210/169 X to sweepout a child that might have fallen into the 3,063,077 ll/l962 Pansini210/169 X L 3,689,408 9/1972 Edmiston et al 210/169 7 Claims, 14 DrawingFigures PATENTEU 8 74 SHEET 1 BF 4 PATENTED BET 81974 SHEET 2 (IF 4 1SWIMMING POOL SWEEPING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to apparatus for use in swimming pools and the like.

The danger of children accidentally or intentionally entering anunattended swimming pool and drowning, is well recognized as a majorhazard of swimming pools. In many situations it is impractical to usehigh fences or immovable pool covers to prevent entry whenever the poolis unattended. Alarms are available to detect SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a poolsweeping system is provided which can rescue a child who makes anunauthorized entry into the pool. This system includes a net thatextends across the width of the pool and which extends from the bottomto the top of the pool. Whenthe system is activated and an unauthorizedentry is detected, the net is swept from the deep end of the pool to theshallow end, and is raised to the top of the water to capture and pullout any large object in the pool, such as a child. The net is pulled byfour cables that run along four rails, including twobottom rails thatextend along opposite sides of the pool at the bottom, and two upperrails that extend along opposite sides of the pool at the top. A winchat the shallow end of the pool pulls all FIG. 7 is a sectional end viewof a rail and runner of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of theinvention, which utilizes a vacuum cleaner apparatuswhich sweeps alongthe bottom of the pool;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of thevacuum cleaner apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a simplified plan view of the vacuum cleaner apparatus ofFIG. 10 showing how it can be utilized to sweep a non-rectangular pool;

four cables to pull the net across the pool. At the shallow end of thepool, the lower rails extend upwardly to the top of the pool, so thatafter the net has swept the pool, it lifts any object to the top of thewater. The sweeping mechanism can be utilized to carry vacuum headsalong the bottom of the pool to clean it, such a cleaning operation alsobeing useful to provide a periodic check of operation of the rescuingapparatus.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity intheappended claims. The invention will best be understood from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of poolsweeping appara tus constructed in accordance with the invention, shownduring a sweeping operation;

FIG. 2 is a simplified front elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,shown prior to operation of the sweeping apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the apparatus of FIG. 2, shown during anearly stage of the sweeping operation;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the apparatus near theend of the sweeping operation;

FIG. 5 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 2, shown at the end of thesweeping operation;

FIG. 6 is a partial view of the winch apparatus of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a simplified block diagram showing the circuitry foroperating the deploying winch apparatus of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a simplified block diagram and perspective view of thecircuitry and rewinding winch apparatus of the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 14 is a partial sectional side view of step cleaning apparatus in asweeping system constructed in accordance with still another embodimentof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a swimmingpool 10 of rectangular shape, with a deep end 12 and shallow end 14. Asweep system is installed in the pool for dragging out a person whoenters the pool when the system is activated. The sweep apparatusincludes a main net 16 which can sweep across the pool from the deep end12 to the shallow end 14, picking up any large object such as a person,to carry him to-the shallow end of the pool and to lift him to the topof the water at the shallow end. The main net is towedacross the pool byfour cables that lie in four rails or tracks 18, 20, 22 and 24 thatextend along the length of the pool. When an unauthorized entry into thepool is detected, a winch apparatus 26 at the shallow end of the poolwinds up the cables to tow the main net 16 across the pool. Two detectorsystems are utilized to detect an unauthorized entry into the pool. Oneof them includes a microphone or similar transducer 28 that detects acharacteristic noise in the water when a person falls into the pool orotherwise creates a splash. Another detector is of the photoelectrictype, which includes a lamp apparatus 30 that shines a beam of light,three mirrors 32 spaced about the pool for directing the light beamaround the periphery of the pool, and a photoelectric cell 34 fordetecting interruptions of the beam, which are created when a personenters the pool. An activating switch 36 which is located on a controlconsole 38, can be operated to activate the sweep system when the poolwill not be used, or to deactivate the sweep system during normal use;If desired, the switch 36 may include a key operated lock to preventolder children from deactivating the system without permission.

FIG. 2 illustrates the system prior to activation, when the main net 16is held in a storage region 40 at the deep end of the pool. The lowerend of the mainnet extends between runners 42 that move along the bottomrails 18, 20. The upper end of the main net 16 is attached to otherrunners 44 that move along the upper rails 22, 24. When the sweep systemis energized, the four cables extending through the four tracks arepulled, so that all of the runners 42, 44 are deployed from the storagearea.

FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of the sweep system a short timeafter activation, wherein the runners 42, 44 have moved a small distancefrom their initial position. The storage region includes a largelyvertical wall 46 that extends down to a position near the bottom of thepool. The upper track includes an initial portion 22a that extendsdownwardly inside the storage wall and under it, and a second portion22b that extends up to the top of the pool, the following regions of theupper track 22 lying near the top of the pool. As the winch apparatusoperates, the runners 42, 44 pull the main net 16 from the storage areainto the swimming region of the pool and hold it so it extends acrossthe width of the pool and from the bottom to the top of the pool.

As the winch apparatus 26 continues to pull the cables and runnersattached to them, the main net 16 moves through the pool, capturinganyone lying in the pool and dragging him toward the shallow end. FIG. 1illustrates the system at about the middle point of its sweepingoperation, while FIG. 4 illustrates the system near the end of asweeping operation. The terminal portion 18x of each lower rail extendsupwardly at the shallow end of the pool. As a result, the bottom 16b ofthe main net is pulled to the top of the pool at the shallow end. If achild has been captured by the main net 16, he will therefore be liftednear or above the surface of the water. If the child is unconscious oris too small to stand safely even in the shallow end of the pool, he canstill be rescued. FIG. illustrates the sweep apparatus at the end of thesweeping operation. It may be noted that the portion 47 of the terminallower track portion 18x lies a distance above the surface of the water,and that the lower runners 42 stop at this highest portion. This permitsthe net to hold a child largely out of the water, even though the netdroops somewhat between the runners 42, 44 on the lower and uppertracks. In order to minimize the amount of net drooping, the upperrunner 44 is towed no further than the position shown in FIG. 4, atwhich position the upper runners abut stops 48 positioned along theupper tracks.

In addition to the main net 16, an auxiliary net 50 is provided whichextends behind the main net. The auxiliary net 50 may be provided if itis desired to have a net extending over substantially the entire poolsurface at the end of the sweeping operation. The auxiliary net has afront end tied to the top of the main net 16 and to the same runners 44that carry the top of the main net. The rear end of the auxiliary net isheld on another pair of runners 52 that also move along the uppertracks, and which are towed by the cables that run along the uppertracks. At the end of a sweep operation, the net 50 is held tensioned sothat all of it lies near the top of the pool.

FIG. 6 illustrates the winch apparatus 26 which tows four cables 58, 60,62, 64 that extend through the four tracks 18, 20, 22, 24, respectively.The winch apparatus includes a gear head motor 66 whose output shaft 68is connected to two cable drums 70, 72. When the output shaft 68 turnsin the direction of arrow 74, the drums wind the cables 58, 60 so thatthe lower end of the main net is towed across the pool. Another gearhead motor 76 is also provided which has an output shaft 78 connected totwo drums 80, 82 that can wind the cables 62, 64 that extend along theupper tracks, to

tow the upper portions of the main net across the pool FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate a portion of one track 22, the cable 62 that runs through it,and the runner 44 that connects the cable to the net 16. The track 22 istubular, except for a slot at the side that faces the main net 16. Therunner 44 includes a body 92 that is fixed to the cable 62 and to a mainline 16L of the main net, and also includes a pair of rollers 94, 96rotatedly mounted on the body 92 for rolling along the inside of thetrack.

FIG. 12 is a simplified view of a portion of the control circuit of thesweeping system. When the system is energized and a child crosses thelight beam which surrounds the perimeter of the pool, the photo cell 34generates a pulse, that is amplified by an amplifier 100. Similarly,when a splash occurs in the pool, the transducer 28 generates a pulsewhich is amplified by another amplifier 102. The pulse from eitheramplifier 100 or 102 enters an input 104 of a siren and emergency lightapparatus 106 to turn it on and notify persons in the area of theunauthorized entry into the pool. The pulse from either amplifier alsoenters the ON terminal 108 of a first latching relay 110. The latchingrelay then closes to allow current to flow from a power line 112 to themotor 66 that tows the cables such as cable 64. The motor continuesoperating until a switching runner 112 that is attached to the cable 60operates a switch 114. The switch 114 then delivers a pulse to the offinput 116 of the first latching relay to open it and terminateenergization of the motor 66. The switching runner 112 is located sothat the motor 68 is deenergized only after the bottom of the main nethas reached its final position. In a similar manner, the pulse from thephotocell or transducer amplifiers 100, 102 also enters the ON terminal118 of a second latching relay 120 which closes to being energization ofthe other motor 76 that winds the cables such as cable 64, that extendthrough the upper tracks. After the upper cables have been towed totheir final positions, a switch runner 122 on the upper cable 64operates a switch 124 that sends a pulse to the off terminal 126 of thesecond latching relay 120 to turn it off and de-energize the motor 76.

The on-off switch 36 which controls the apparatus has an output that canenter the activating input 128 of the siren 106, and which also canenter the activating terminals 130, 132 of the latching relays 110, 120.Until the switch 36 is turned on, the siren 106 will not operate and thelatching relays 110, 120 will remain open regardless of any pulses thatenter their ON terminals, 108, 118. It should be understood that thecircuit is shown only in a highly simplified form for better clarity,switching and activating apparatus for systems of this type being wellknown.

After a sweep of the pool by the sweeping system, it is necessary towithdraw the main and auxiliary nets back into the storage area. FIG. 13is a simplified illustration of a retracting winch mechanism 130 whichwithdraws the nets back into the storage area. The mechanism includes anupper cable rewind motor 132 whose output shaft 134 drives a pair ofdrums 136, 138 that rewind the cables 62, 64 that extend along the uppertracks. When an operator presses a button to close a rewind switch 140,a pulse is delivered to the ON terminal 142 of a latching relay 144,closing the relay and allowing power to flow from the power line 112 tothe motor 132 to energize it. As the motor shaft 134 turns, a pinion 146on it slowly turns a gear 148 that turns a cam 150. After the upperrewind drums have turned sufficiently to completely withdraw the upperpart of the nets back intothe storage area, a switch 152 that rides onthe cam will close and deliver a pulse to the off terminal 154 of thelatching relay 144 to open it and de-energize the motor 132. A similarapparatus is employed to pull back the lower cables, this other systemincluding a lower rewind motor 160 that can be energized through anotherlatching relay 162 to turn drums that rewind the lower cables to pullback the lower portions of the nets into the storage area.

A sweep apparatus can be used for additional functions besides rescuinga child. The apparatus that slowly sweeps across the pool can beutilized for facilitating pool maintenance, as by including dispensersfor dispensing chlorine to keep the pool water evenly chlorinated or tosweep the bottom of the pool. FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment ofthe invention, wherein a group of vacuum heads 170, 172, 174, etc., aretowed along the bottom of the pool by the cables such as cable 58 thatalso drag the bottom of the main net 16. The vacuum heads are attachedto a common vacuum line 176 that extends across the pool and whichconnects to a flexible hose 178. The hose 178 extends to the storagearea where it is connected to a vacuum pump, (not shown). The vacuumheads are positioned so they do not interfere with deployment of themain net 16 for catching a child who .falls into the pool. By mountingthe vacuum apparatus to move with the net through the pool, the towingapparatus is utilized to facilitate pool maintenance. The vacuumapparatus may be operated only once in awhile, and it serves to checkthe operation of the system to make sure that it will properly operatein an emergency to sweep a child from the pool.

FIG. illustrates another vacuum apparatus which is designed tofacilitate sweeping of a pool of irregular shape. The apparatus includesa series of parallelogram structures 180 that extend across the pool andwhich are held to brackets 182 that are tied to the lower cables such ascable 58. The parallelogram supports 180 hold vacuum heads 184, 186,188, etc., and a flexible hose 190 that connects the heads to a vacuumpump. As shown in FIG. 11, when the vacuum apparatus is at a narrowportion of the pool, the vacuum heads overlap one another considerably.However, when the apparatus has reached a wider portion of the pool, theparallelograms extend to reach completely across the width of the poolwhile the vacuum heads overlap one another only a small amount. Thevacuum heads will vacuum all regions of the pool including the widestregions, and yet can be accomodated in a narrow region of the pool.

The main net 16 can be attached to the parallelograms 180, so that thebottom of the net can always be held close to the bottom of the pooleven though the net would normally be very slack at narrower regions ofthe pool. Of course, the parallelogram structures are useful even whereno vacuum cleaner is employed. Larger objects than those which can bepicked up by a vacuum head can be lifted into the net by deflectors 192at the leading edge of the net.

FIG. 14 illustrates a step sweeper apparatus 200 for sweeping off thesteps 202, 204 at the shallow end of the pool. The apparatus includesbrush members 206,

208, 210 that are moved by solenoid mechanisms 212 to sweep the dirt offthe steps. The brushes are moved in sequence so that dirt on the stepsis progressively moved to lower steps and then to a region 214. The

lower tracks such as track 216 are positioned to carry the vacuum headspast the region 214 where they can pick up the dirt, and then along apath that is clear of the steps.

Thus, the invention provides apparatus for sweeping a pool in anautomatic manner. The apparatus can tow a net across the pool to dragout a child who makes an unauthorized entry into the pool so as toreduce the danger of drowning, and also can be utilized to aid inmaintenance of the pool. The apparatus can be operated rapidly and withlittle effort on the part of the operator, and can be rapidly returnedto its original position for normal use of the pool.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variationsmay readily occur to those skilled in the art and consequently it isintended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications andequivalents.

What is claimed is: 1. Pool and sweeping apparatus comprising: a pooldefining opposite sides and opposite ends; two upper rails extendingalong opposite sides of the pool, said rails located near the top of thepool along most of their lengths; V

two lower rails extending along opposite sides of the pool and locatednear the bottom of the pool along most of their lengths; runner meansengaged with said rails to move therealong; cable means extending alongsaid rails and attached to said runner means; i winch means engaged withsaid cable means to pull it; and sweep means extending across said pooland attached to said runner means so that it is pulled from one end ofthe pool to the other when said winch means is operated. 2. Theapparatus described in claim 1 including: detector means for sensing theentrance of a person into said pool,.and means coupling said detectormeans to said winch means to start it. 3. The apparatus described inclaim 1 wherein: said sweep means includes a net extending betweenrunner means on each of said upper rails and each of said lower rails.4. The apparatus described in claim -1 wherein: said sweep meansincludes a plurality of vacuum heads at substantially the same level assaid lower rails for vacuuming the bottom of the pool. 5. The apparatusdescribed in claim 4 wherein: said sweep means includes an expandablesupport extending across said pool to follow variations in pool width,and said vacuum heads are spaced along said'support and overlap oneanother so that the entire width of the pool is vacuumed even along thewidest part of the pool. 6. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein:said pool has a deep end and an opposite shallow end, and said winchmeans pulls said net from said deep end to said shallow end. 7. Theapparatus described in claim 1 wherein:

said pool has deep and shallow ends and said winch I means pulls saidcables towards said shallow end;

and said lower rails extend upwardly to a position at least near the topof the pool at said shallow end.

1. Pool and sweeping apparatus comprising: a pool defining oppositesides and opposite ends; two upper rails extending along opposite sidesof the pool, said rails located near the top of the pool along most oftheir lengths; two lower rails extending along opposite sides of thepool and located near the bottom of the pool along most of theirlengths; runner means engaged with said rails to move therealong; cablemeans extending along said rails and attached to said runner means;winch means engaged with said cable means to pull it; and sweep meansextending across said pool and attached to said runner means so that itis pulled from one end of the pool to the other when said winch means isoperated.
 2. The apparatus described in claim 1 including: detectormeans for sensing the entrance of a person into said pool, and meanscoupling said detector means to said winch means to start it.
 3. Theapparatus described in claim 1 wherein: said sweep means includes a netextending between runner means on each of said upper rails and each ofsaid lower rails.
 4. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: saidsweep means includes a plurality of vacuum heads at substantially thesame level as said lower rails for vacuuming the bottom of the pool. 5.The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein: said sweep means includes anexpandable support extending across said pool to follow variations inpool width, and said vacuum heads are spaced along said support andoverlap one another so that the entire width of the pool is vacuumedeven along the widest part of the pool.
 6. The apparatus described inclaim 1 wherein: said pool has a deep end and an opposite shallow end,and said winch means pulls said net from said deep end to said shallowend.
 7. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: said pool has deepand shallow ends and said winch means pulls said cables towards saidshallow end; and said lower rails extend upwardly to a position at leastnear the top of the pool at said shallow end.